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The 4,085ft / 1,245m Cairngorm Mountain is
130 miles north of Glasgow and Edinburgh, 11
miles east of Aviemore in the Highlands of
Scotland. Regular Buses run
between Aviemore and the Mountain. Regular
Buses and Trains run to Aviemore.
Cairngorm Mountain is open all year, now
with a small charge for the Car Park to help
with Maintenance. The Car Park is at about
2,000ft. Postcode: PH22 1RB. Phone: 01479 861
261.
For Images on Mobile swipe right
Click On Map for Area
Attractions.
Camping & Touring Parks in
area
Winter Sports catered for are: Skiing and
Snowboarding.
Summer Activities catered for are: Guided Walks
and Tubing.
Trains to the top Station at
3,500ft / 1,245m were being repaired in 2024,
check the website to see if they are running
when you visit.
The Car Park at the Bottom Station is
popular for Walkers and Hikers going up into
the vast range of Mountains here.
In Summer, you are not meant to take the
Train to the Top Station then Hike the final
500ft to the Summit of Cairn Gorm to prevent
erosion. You are meant to Hike from the Car
Park by taking a Trail out to the left, or more
popular to the right then up a Ridge Trail.
Mountains Guide.
In Winter, in Snow and Ice, you can Hike
from the Top Station to the Summit, or now
popular is Skinning / Ski Walking, going uphill
in Skis with Skins on that can only go one way,
then Skiing back down. If Hiking in Snow and
Ice, take Ice Grips for your Boots and an Ice
Axe or Poles, also Warm and Weatherproof
Clothing.
Cairngorm History
1863 - Aviemore Train
Station opened as part of the Highland
Railway, connecting this remote Town to the
rest of the UK.
1891 - Sir Hugh Munroe listed
282 Mountains in Scotland over 3,000ft, with
vast numbers of Hikers starting to try and Hike
all of these Mountains, known as Monroe
Baggers.
Of the 9 Mountains over 4,000ft in Scotland,
5 are in the Cairngorm area, with Ben Macdui
being the second highest Mountain in Scotland
at 4,294ft, 1,309m.
The other 4 over 4,000ft are around Fort
William, 62 miles southwest, including the
highest Ben Nevis at 4.409ft, 1,345m.
1947 - Glenmore Lodge by the
Cairngorm Mountain opened as an Outdoor Centre,
leading to the area becoming a popular Winter
Sports destination.
1961 December - a Ski Resort was opened on
the Cairngorm Mountain with a Chairlift and
Chalet. This led to Aviemore becoming a popular Ski
Resort Town, soon with a number of large
Hotels, Holiday Parks with Caravans, Lodges,
Camping and Touring.
1977 - an automatic Weather Station
was built at the Summit of Cairngorm Mountain
to monitor Wind Speed and Temperature. Every
half hour, you hear a whirring sound as a hatch
opens, then a strange instrument pops out.
2001 - the Cairngorm Mountain Railway opened for
Tourists, Skiers, and Snow Boarders to travel
fast up to the top slopes at 1,097 m / 3,599
ft. The Top Station has a Restaurant and
Museum.
2010 - Blizzards covered everything on the
Cairngorm Mountain in deep Snowdrifts up to
20ft, leading to workers having to work long
hours digging everything out of the Snow.
2018 Feb - the Beast From the East cold
spell led to fantastic Skiing conditions, after
the road up the Mountain had been cleared by
machines, and Train Tracks dug out by hand.
There are two sections of the train tracks that
often get covered in snow, one close to the
bottom, and one close to the top.
2018 March - I visited Cairn Gorm Mountain
for Photos. Seemingly, the image bottom right
is fairly rare, with Icicles hanging from the
Weather Station, taken at the latter stages of
the Beast From the East, as seen in the
Larger
Images.
People I met at the top informed me I had
Icicles in my hair as well. Had to Hike up from
the Top Station three times before the weather
cleared for the Sunny Pics. Pics from the fist
two Hikes show what the inside of a Cloud looks
like.
2018 Oct - the Cairngorm Mountain Railway
was closed awaiting repairs.
2023 Jan - the Cairngorm Mountain Railway
began running again but was closed for more
repairs in August.
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